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International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2014): 5.611 A Study on the Heroic Traits of Odysseus Li Yue 1Department of Liberal Arts, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318 Abstract: Odysseus is a hero of Homeric Age. Similar to other heroes, Odysseus is gifted with strength and bravery. However, he also possesses several traits which cannot be found in most of the other heroes in the epics of that time. This essay analyzes the heroic traits of Odysseus and conduct a brief study on the historical background which produced such new traits, trying to find out clues of how the Greek unlocked the gate of intellect and civilization from Odysseus. Keywords: Odysseus, Heroic traits, Homer’s epics, Iliad, Odyssey 1. Introduction alone was strong enough to string the bow and shoot it through the dozen axe heads, thus became the winner. Odysseus is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero in Homer's epic the Odyssey. He also plays a key role in 2.1 Odysseus has an independent mind instead of Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle. In addition, totally relying on the gods. Odysseus is described as a hero full of resource in the Fall of Troy written by Quintus Smyrnaeus in the 4th century as In Odyssey, relationship between gods and human beings are well. not as close as that in Iliad and gods play a less vital role in earthen events. This means human beings are authorized with The two epics Iliad and Fall of Troy portray Odysseus as a opportunities and rights to make decision and master their resourceful Greek hero who always appears as a trusted own life instead of totally relying on the gods and obeying counselor and adviser in the Trojan War. His most famous their orders. contribution during the war was devising the scheme of the Trojan Horse which decisively led to the victory of the Odysseus is such an example. Faced with dilemma made by Greek. gods, He tries to make judgment and work out his own solution. In Book 5 of Odyssey, Odysseus suffered the The Odyssey describes Odysseus journey towards home after terrific fury caused by Poseidon, Goddess Leucothea offered the Trojan War and his efforts to restore the order of his her veil. She asked him to swim to the Phaecian coast with Kingdom. On the way home from Troy, Odysseus suffered a her veil round his chest. However, Odysseus didn’t adopt her lot, but most of the time the hero defeated his enemies and advice immediately, instead, he thought in dismay, “this is survived by his cunning intelligence and great determination. only someone or other of the gods who is luring me to ruin After returning to his hometown, Odysseus carried out his by advising me to will quit my raft. At any rate I will not do revenge scheme. With the help of Athena, Telemachus, so at present, for the land where she said I should be quit of Eumaeus and Philoteus, he killed all the suitors and restored all troubles seemed to be still a good way off. I know what I his kingdom. will do. I am sure it will be best.” It is remarkable that he said so. Here the will of “I” begin to be independent from and Compared with other heroes during the Homeric Age, challenge against that of the gods. Odysseus experiences more, therefore his view is broader and his character more complicated. In this essay, the heroic It is true that in Iliad the heroic Diomedes once challenged traits of Odysseus will be analyzed, especially focusing on the immortal gods by wounding Ares and Aphrodite, but his the distinctive ones which cannot be found in other heroes, courage is linked with the help and protection of Goddess and finally try to sketch out the historical background which Athena. While Diomedes challenged the strength of gods led to the emergence of such heroic traits in the epics. with the help of gods, Odysseus challenged the will of gods with his own mind and no other external power. So it could 2. Analysis of the heroic traits of Odysseus be said that Odysseus is the hero who brings the first light of independent intellect and sense in ancient Greek mythology. Almost all the heroes of the Homeric Age are characterized by extraordinary strength. Odysseus is no exception. In Iliad, 2.2 Odysseus fights with wisdom instead of conquering during the funeral games for Patroclus, Odysseus was with strength involved in a wrestling match with Telamonian Ajax, as well In Odysseus we find the bud of reason and intellect which as a foot race. With the help of the goddess Athena, he make him quite different from the other heroes. Instead of defeated the competitor and won the race. And in Odyssey, conquering with strength, Odysseus fights against his Penelope maneuvered the suitors into competing for her hand enemies and obstacles with wisdom. with an archery competition using Odysseus’ bow. The man who could string the bow and shoot it through a dozen axe Firstly, Odysseus’s reason and wisdom is shown in the 10- heads would win. Odysseus took part in the competition; he year-long Trojan War. He is not only a hero, but also a Volume 4 Issue 12, December 2015 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: NOV151674 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 229 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2014): 5.611 military strategist. In Book 19 of Iliad, the quarrel between would qualify Telemachus to be the King of Ithaca in the Odysseus and Achilles is an example. When Achilles was future. informed of the death of Patroclus, he was in great fury and eager to revenge. He insisted that the sons of the Achaeans 2.4 Odysseus fights for common salvation as well as for should fight without food and rest. Odysseus thought it was personal glory unwise, for the battle would be no brief one. He suggested that Achilles should send the army away and bid them have “Glory” is a key word in ancient Greek mythology. It is their meal first, for this would fill them with strength. This guarded as firmly as the unshakable position of the gods and quarrel can be taken as a fight between two kinds of heroic goddesses in the epics during Homer’s age. To some extent, traits: strength and wisdom. Although Achilles’ strength it is obligation and responsibility for gods and heroes to contributes a lot to the victory at the beginning, it is cherish the glory because for them, guarding their glory Odysseus’ wisdom which helps the Achaeans capture the means pursuing the justice and keeping the order of the Troy at last. universe. Secondly, Odysseus’ wisdom is more apparently shown In Iliad, Achilles was in pursuit of glory. However, the glory during his long voyage back home. The adventure on sea is pursued by Achilles was his personal glory. When King quite different from the fight on the battlefront. The sea is Agamemnon deprived him of his prize, he furiously rejected just like a miniature society. Wisdom and trick are two of his to fight any longer so as to maintain his glory without best weapons. For example, in Book 9 of Odyssey, he considering the fate of his country and his fellow soldiers. cheated Polyphemus trickily that his name was “Noman”, so when the Cyclopes asked Polyphemus who hurt him, the Personal glory is not the only thing Odysseus strives for. He giant could only say “No man” hurt him. As Polyphemus also strives for common salvation. This is mainly shown in said, Odysseus wounded him by fraud instead of by force. his journey back home after the Trojan War. Odysseus is Compared with Achilles, Agamemnon and Hector who spend eager for salvation and he desires to get rid of the painful almost all of their life on the battlefield, Odysseus is more wandering life on sea. From him we find positive sophisticated and mature in mind. Through observing and consciousness of self-salvation, which is rarely seen in other thinking, Odysseus has a deeper understanding of the order heroes of Homer’s time. He also fights to save his of the world and the rules to survive in it. As Whitman companions and achieve common salvation. As Denton J. Cedric says, through the arduous adventure, Odysseus Snider points out, “That wisdom of his was employed, and becomes a man with richer experiences and greater wit to that suffering of his was endured, not for his own good understand all the things. [1] merely, but for the good of others.”[2] Snider views this as a hint of self-offering, which has not yet flowered but is 2.3 The Odysseus is featured by patience and certainly budding far back in old Hellas. endurance instead of impetuousness But Odysseus failed to save his companions at last: none of Endurance is also a key factor in Odysseus’ personality. his fellows survived. Herein lies his limitation, in fact, it’s the Without this trait, maybe Odysseus’ journey towards home limitation of the entire Greek world. Because of the would be much harder and his scheme of slaughtering all the limitation of the epoch they lived in, those men lacked the suitors would not be successfully carried out. reason and intellect which was needed for their salvation, while the heroic Odysseus also lacked the greater wisdom From Odyssey we know that during Odysseus’ adventure on which was required for common salvation.
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